MTV Greenlight Eight Non-Scripted Series

In quest to overcome steep ratings declines, MTV announced major additions to the programming line-up with new shows produced by P. Diddy, Donald Trump, Nick Lachey and Johnny Knoxville among others.

MTV's original programming line-up is expanding with eight original non-scripted series getting the thumbs up from the entertainment network. With the titles, like "Nitro Circus", "Daddy's Girls", "The Girls of Hedsor Hall" and "MTV's Untitled Performing Arts Reality Project", the new shows coming up over the next several months will be produced by the likes of Johnny Knoxville, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Donald Trump, Nick Lachey, and others.

"In the coming months, we are unveiling an extremely ambitious launch schedule filled with an unprecedented volume of new content," Tony DiSanto, executive VP of series development and programming, explained. It is further explained that MTV is looking forward to launching a two-hour block of original programming on Sundays at 9 P.M. and air original shows at 9 P.M. on Mondays and Thursdays starting in the first quarter of 2009.

Commenting of the new series, Brian Graden, president of entertainment at MTV Networks Music Group, said, "This is a generation with the bravado and drive to reinvent the world, and the ingenuity to actually pull it off. These new series reflect Generation 'Why Not?' living, working and playing on their own terms, 'adventure capitalists' if you will, pursuing a variety of thrill-seeking 2.0, express-yourself enterprises."

With Johnny Knoxville serving as its executive producer, "Nitro Circus" is dubbed to be a "Jackass"-inspired stunt show featuring motorsports competitor Travis Pastrana to give a more professional take on daredevil work. Meanwhile, "Daddy's Girl" is a spinoff of MTV's "Run's House", following Vanessa and Angela Simmons, the two daughters of Run DMC's Reverend Run, as they pursue their careers in Los Angeles. "Daddy's Girl" will bow in January.

"The Girls of Hedsor Hall", on the other hand, will take 12 hard-partying, foul-mouthed American women and put them on an English finishing school to win a $100,000 prize. Donald Trump serves as the show's executive producer. Another series is tentatively called "MTV's Untitled Performing Arts Reality Project". Created by Nick Lachey and Colton Gramm, it centers on the stories of talented teenagers from Cincinnati's School for the Creative & Performing Arts.

Other series include the news and information satire series "How's Your News?" from Trey Parker and Matt Stone of "South Park"; "The College Humor Show" which takes viewers inside the frat-like offices of the web's Collegehumor.com; and "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory" which will feature the skateboard pro as he works to make his dreams of expanding his skateboard empire come true. The last one is "College Life" which will show a raw and unpolished intimate look at the University of Wisconsin's students telling their own honest stories in their own way.